Seplat Energy JV/ NNPC E&P Limited on Wednesday disclosed that it had undertaken more than 90,000 eye surgeries in the last 12 years in its host communities of Edo, Delta, and Imo states.
The Base Manager of the Western Asset at Seplat Energy, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine made this known during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Seplat/NNPC E&P Limited “Eye Can See” programme at the Oba’s Palace in Benin.
Otokhine said the initiative was part of Seplat’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in areas where it operated.
He said that the programme was designed to provide eye care, visual aid, and surgical treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, and other diseases that could lead to eye problems.
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He said that the lives of many residents in its host communities had greatly been impacted positively since the inception of the programme, adding that more than 45,000 reading glasses and drugs had been dispensed.
“The programme is just beginning today and it will be difficult to give you the number of people who have benefited this year.
“But we are targeting treating about 5000 people. We started by performing 19 surgeries yesterday and we hope to do more as we proceed in the weeklong medical care,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs Faith Otitinor, representative of NNPC E&P Limited, Community Liason Officer, NEPL, Benin, thanked the various communities present for their cooperation over the years.
Otitinor said that the NNPCL and Seplat had partnered with highly qualified medical practitioners who had proven themselves in the field of optical care to deploy the programme since 2012.
In the same vein, the representative of the Oba of Benin, Chief Isaac Oghafua Oyeoba, the Oyeoba of Benin, thanked Seplat JV and NNPC E&P Limited for the kind gesture, saying that it had impacted positively on the people.